The Flemisters

History as near as I can find of The Flemisters by Daughter-in-Law, wife of

 W. Y. Flemister.

Little is known of the Leggetts and Flemisters, but as best I can find John Leggett and Nancy Jackson were married 1803 in Camden, Ark.  There were 9 children, 8 boys, 1 girl. The record shows they lived at San Marcos, Tex. in yr. 1870.  Only two of the boys came to Texas as to what I can find, with their parents living at San Marcos, Texas.  Next date is this son died 1870, but they moved here about 1817 to San Marcus.

Little is known of Mr. Flemister.  Only record we have is Wilson Gusto Flemister, born August 5, 1848 at Macon, Ga.  Married Nancy Elzara Leggett in Feb. 1870, but do not know where, but we think some where near are in Port Lavaca, Texas as was the home of her fore fathers.  As to Mrs. Flemister, she was born April 7, 1852 in are near Camden, Ark. 

This grandfather (Leggett) was active, if not a Baptist preacher, as he helped to organize one of the First Baptist Churches down in the southern part of Texas near Houston.  We know three of the youngest born that lived with him at are near San Marcus.  John Leggett lived with family in Waco.  Tom Leggett, preacher in Houston area.  K.K. Jr. County Judge in Abeline, Tex. 

The next record I find Mr. and Mrs. Flemister lived in Ellis Co. near Alvarado in 1874.  Moved to Keller 1881 with a family of 5, 3 boys and 2 girls. 

One of the sons, the 7^th Kervin Kade Leggett, May 12, 1819 in N.C., married

Minty Berry, born February 26, 1825, in Alabama in September 1842.  They moved to Camden, Arkansas, but this was the father of Mrs. Flemister.  To this Kervin Kade and Minty Leggett was born 8 children, 5 girls, 3 boys.  We have no record of only 1 girl, 3 boys coming to Texas, but the girl was Nancy Elzara Leggett, the mother of Walter Young Flemister, who’s wife is trying to write this up.

Wilson Gusto Flemister and Nancy Elzara, first record we have in Ellis Co. near Alvarado in 1874 to 1881, when they moved to Keller.  Bought the farm north of Keller now known as the Reynolds farm as picture shows the house.  Then in about 1881 sold and bought farm where Jess Berry now owns.  Then later 1886, sold that and bought west of Keller whitch was always called the Flemister Farm, ‘Old Glory’ as called by the family. This was 1887, where they lived when Mr. Flemister passed away in May 16, 1920.  Then Mrs. Flemister moved to Keller, but later to Dallas with daughter, Neta.  The boys called it home until they no longer to live out there.  Crate and Jack as both were bachelors and not able to care for them selves.  Then they two moved to Keller and the farm was sold to Henry Thompson (1952) and wife. ‘Old Glory’ as called by the family, it was the home place for 66 years    To this union was 15 children.

The grandfather and mother K.K. Leggetts came for a visit to their Daughter’s after being here some time this Sat. morning Mrs. Leggett came in told her daughter she wanted to go home that day, but Paw, as she called her husband, said he was not ready.  No more was said and all thought she ment to Port Lavaca.  Next Sat. she said the same thing, but he did not give her an answer.  W.K. later about 10 a.m., he ask Mr. Flemister to get him a glass of water and just fell over to the home above.  Of course, they went and told the wife.  She camley went laying across the bed and before moving she to had passed on.  Also she said had always prayed it would be he go on Sat., she on Sunday, both buried in same grave (Monday) here in Bourland Cemetery.  February 2, 1908, all of the Flemister children have two passed on.  There is now living 2 daughters-in-law and 1 son-in-law survive, Mrs. Willie Flemister, Mrs. Harry (Phyllis) Flemister, Mr. Ben F. Gibson (husband of Neta Flemister).  There is now living 5 grand children, V.A. Davis (Ida Flemister son), Nancy Flemister (Harry’s daughter), Louise Lewis and Audifae Robertson (Maud Flemister’s daughters), Geraldine Grace (Red Flemister’s daughter),

8 great grand children, 11 great, great grand children.

Note:  This narrative was transcribed from two narratives the Mrs. Flemister had written using her words and spelling.  

Flemister Family

The history of the Flemister family has been traced through the Leggett line on the maternal side, to the early 1800’s.  John Leggett was married to Nancy Jackson in 1803.  They were the parents of eight sons and one daughter.  A son, Kirvin Kade, born

May 12, 1819 in North Carolina, was married in 1842 to Minty Berry, born in Alabama, February 26, 1825.  He and his wife became the parents of five daughters and three sons.

There is no record of the westward migration for the Leggetts, but a Bible still in existence gives the birth of a daughter, Nancy Elzara, April 7, 1852 at Camden, Ouchita County, Arkansas.  Subsequent moves brought the family to Texas, first to San Marcos as early as 1870 and later to Port Lavaca, Calhoun County. 

The name Leggett figured prominently in the organization and support of early day Baptist Churches in Texas.  Jewell Leggett Daniels, a 1907 graduate of Baylor University at Waco, served as a missionary in the Shantung province of China and lives now in Dallas.

In February of 1870, Nancy Elzara, the daughter of Kirvin Kade and Minty Leggett was married to Wilson Gustos Flemister, born August 5, 1848, at Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.

The Flemisters are known to have lived near Alvarado, Ellis County until the early 1880’s.  At that time they moved with five children to Tarrant County where they bought a farm north of Keller.  After a few years, this farm was sold to Charlie White.  The Flemisters then bought the farm owned now by the Jess Berry family.  In 1886, they sold this land and bought fifty two acres on a timbered hill one half mile farther west and a mile and quarter south.  This farm, named “Old Glory” by the Flemister children, was the family home for sixty-six years.  It is remembered as a place where relatives and friends were always welcome.  In the winter of 1907-8, Kirvin Kade Leggett and his wife

Nancy (sic) ( s/b Minty) , parents of Mrs. Flemister, came from Fort Lavaca for a visit.  He was in his eighty ninth year and she was near eighty three.  On February 1, 1908, as if in answer to a life long wish, they passed away within hours of each other.  On February 2, they were buried in the same grave in Bourland Cemetery.

Wilson Gustos Flemister died May 16, 1920.  His wife Nancy Elzara died September 9, 1922.  Both are buried in the family plot at Bourland Cemetery.

The birth and death dates and marriages of the fifteen Flemister children are as follows:

1)      Thomas Edward, born April 26, 1871 and died April 26, 1871, buried in Ellis County.

2)      Mary Etta, born March 25, 1872 and died January 30, 1930, buried East Oakwood, Fort Worth.  She was married to John Bentley Merrill.  They were the parents of one son, Robert.  Their first home was on the corner of S. Main and Hill where Keller Café stands now.  Later they built a home on the north east corner of the intersection of South Main and Taylor.  Their mercantile store was on the south west corner of the intersection of S. Main and Hill.  Their last move was to Fort Worth where Mr. Merrill engaged in a wholesale hosiery business.

3)      Kirvin Kade, born February 11, 1874 and died May 12, 1931, buried in Bourland Cemetery.  He spent most of his adult life in California, but returned in later years to Keller.

4)      Ida May, born January 27, 1876 and died July 16, 1945, buried in Bourland Cemetery.  She was married to Perry Davis.  They were the parents of three children, Virgil A., Nila and Kirvin Kade.  Mr. Davis operated a blacksmith shop and lumber yard.  Later he became a carpenter.  Houses still standing which he built and sold are at 302 E. Price, 128 East Taylor and 103 N. Main.  He built the brick drugstore, now occupied by the Texas Power and Light Company.  In their later years, the Davis’s lived in Justin where he was employed by the city water works.

5)      Wilson Gustos, born September 3, 1877 and died August 16, 1878, buried in Ellis County.

6)      Jesse Cratus, born August 1, 1879 and died August 31, 1955, buried in Bourland Cemetery. 

7)      Jackson Leggett, born May 10, 1881 and died June 1, 1953, buried in Bourland Cemetery.  Jesse Cratus (Crate) and Jackson Leggett (Jack) were bachelors who lived on the farm (Old Glory) all their active years.  When age and ill health forced them to retire, the farm was sold to Henry Thomason in 1952 and the two brothers spent their remaining years in Keller at 112 East Hill.

8)      Mintie Louise, born April 24, 1883 and died April 24, 1883, buried in Ellis County.

9)      Delah Maude, born January 13, 1885 and died January 5, 1968, buried in Abilene.  Maude was married to Arthur Steadman.  Their children were Oran, Louise, Audifae and Coleyenne.  The Steadman’s lived in Fannin County until they returned to Keller in 1914.  In 1918, they moved to Forth Worth and later Abilene.

10)  Oliver Willow, born November 10, 1887 and died October 5, 1934, buried in Bourland Cemetery.  He was married to Jeanette ______ and lived in Fort Worth.

11)  Geneva Fay (Neeta), born November 10, 1887 and died December 19, 1962, buried Oakland, California.  Neeta and Oliver were twins.  Neeta received nurse’s training and worked at St. Paul’s Hospital in Dallas.  During World War I, she became an army nurse.  Later, she supervised a hospital in Sequoia National Park, California, where she met and married Ben Gibson.  Their home was in Oakland, California.

12)  Clyde Irving, born May 2, 1890 and died September 18, 1890, buried in

Mt. Gilead.

13)  Walter Young (Red), born May 2, 1890 and died November 22, 1964, buried in Bourland Cemetery.  Walter and Clyde were twins.  Walter Young (Red) was married to Willie Mae Harrison July 20, 1912.  They were the parents of two children, Geraldine (Mrs. Bob Grace) and Billy Frank.   Red drove a Model T Ford to provide the first jitney service to and from Fort Worth in 1913.  He spent nineteen years working with county commissioners Rufe Snow, Bill Merritt, Mark Hovenkamp and Roscoe Minton.

14)  Paul Edgar, born January 14, 1894 and died January 3, 1945, buried in Bourland Cemetery.  He was graduated from Baylor University in Waco with a major in business administration.  His wife was Loraine ______.  Their home was in Fort Worth.

15)  Harry Waldon, born October 11, 1895 and died October 1, 1963, buried in Oakland, California.  He was married to Phyllis ______.  Their home was in Oakland, California.  They were the parents of a daughter, Nancy Elzara.

Sources of information:

Records in possession of Mrs. Willie Flemister.

Grave stone inscriptions in Bourland Cemetery.   

Birth and death dates were recorded in the family Bible.